Eastleigh

Eastleigh's population increased by about 9,000 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Eastleigh increased by 7.8%, from about 116,000 to 125,000.

The addition of just over 9,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Eastleigh was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Eastleigh

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Eastleigh increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 11.0% of people in Eastleigh are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastleigh by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

Eastleigh saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (60.2%) households in Eastleigh had no children, compared with 58.6% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 31.8% to 30.1%.

Across the region, only West Oxfordshire saw a greater rise in the proportion of households without children (from 60.2% to 62.0%).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Eastleigh

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Eastleigh was among those who said they had no religion, rising 14.3 points.

In 2011, 30.5% of respondents in Eastleigh gave this religion on the census compared with 16.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 66.4% said they were Christian, compared with 81.9% in 2001. About 0.7% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.5% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 6.9% to 7.3%.

In Eastleigh, 6.8% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.4% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Eastleigh increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Eastleigh by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Eastleigh

The percentage of Eastleigh residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 6.9% to 7.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of Eastleigh residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.7% to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Eastleigh that rented privately increased from 5.7% to 12.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 11.7%, while the percentage of Eastleigh households that owned their home decreased from 80.9% to 73.5%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Eastleigh increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Eastleigh, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Eastleigh

The percentage of adults in Eastleigh that were married decreased from 57.0% to 52.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28.9%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 25.0% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Eastleigh that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.5% to 12.0%.

The proportion of married people fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 52.8% in 2001 to 49.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Eastleigh working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.4% to 10.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Eastleigh decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Eastleigh, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Eastleigh residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.5% to 3.9% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.5%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.3% in 2001. The percentage of Eastleigh residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.3% to 11.6%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Eastleigh decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Eastleigh, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Eastleigh, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.7% to 10.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.7%) households had only one person, compared with 25.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Eastleigh which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 43.6% to 39.0%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Eastleigh residents that were unemployed increased from 1.6% to 3.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 61.4% in 2001. The percentage of Eastleigh residents that were self-employed increased from 8.3% to 9.7%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Eastleigh increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Eastleigh, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Eastleigh

In 2011, 3.0% of Eastleigh residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 1.6% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 94.7% of people in Eastleigh said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 97.4% in 2001. About 1.4% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.5%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Eastleigh increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastleigh by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Eastleigh residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Eastleigh remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastleigh by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links